IPL 2024 | "I know my name is used to promote T20 cricket": Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli played a matchwinning knock of 77 runs against Punjab Kings in an IPL 2024 match on Monday Postmatch during the presentation Kohli said that he is aware of his name being used to promote T20 cricket but hes still got it The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain was also honoured with the Player of the Match award for his remarkable knock He has returned to competitive cricket after two months of breakI know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket But Ive still got it I guess said the 35yearold father of two in the postmatch presentationHis comments came in the backdrop of neverending media speculation surrounding the teams composition for the big event to be jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies starting June 1Englands former player Kevin Pietersen has put on speculations that Kohlis place in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad would be on merit or for being a megastar who will pull in fans Kohli averages over 50 in the shortest format of the game and has a strike rate of 13815In the IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings Virat Kohli yet again showcased his stupendous strokes while chasing On Monday the veteran RCB batsman played with a strike rate of 15714Also Read IN PHOTOS IPL 2024 GT vs CSK Heres all you need to knowWell I mean you have to make additions to your game he said when asked about going aerial against the pacers on the offside People know I play the cover drive pretty well so theyre not going to allow me to hit gaps and with guys like KG Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh as well hes tall So I mean if theyre hitting length you have to create some momentum in the ballAnd once youre closer to the ball you kind of negate the bounce thats going to happen You meet it earlier So I mean you have to come up with a game plan here and there and try to keep improving your game he explained at the postmatch presentationWhen asked about the two months period he spent with his family in London the former Indian captain said that it was a surreal experience for him The leave he took allowed him to spend quality time with his family He also enjoyed the feeling of not being recognised by anyone on the streets We were not in the country We were at a place where people were not recognising us Just time together as a family just to feel normal for two months For me for us as a family it was a surreal experienceOf course having two kids things become totally different from a family perspective So just the ability to be together the connections that you make with your older child its amazingI mean I couldnt have been more grateful to God for the opportunity that I got to spend time with my familyFor Kohli not being mobbed is a luxury and he loved every bit of his time away from the limelightAlso Read MCAs disciplinary committee to investigate about MIGParsees altercationAnd yeah just the place that we were in I was telling the guys RCB teammates that when we came back the voices back home felt that much louderI couldnt look up because I was just not used to being called my name for two months And then immediately you hear these loud noises and then youre back in it all againBut it was beautiful Its an amazing experience to just be another person on the road and not be recognised and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis he saidThe Royal Challengers Bengaluru has not won an IPL title in 16 years The former RCB captain was also thankful to the franchises loyal fans for backing them for so many years Its been going on for years and you know people talk about a lot of other things when you play sport The achievements the stats the numbers Look at the end of the day when you look back youre not going to think of the numbers and the statsIts the memories that you create Famously Rahul bhai India head coach in the change room nowadays says exactly the same to us When you play you play your heart out because youre going to miss these times when youre with your friends in the change room playing in front of fansSo the relationship thats happened organically over so many years its something that I can never ever forget Just the love and the appreciation and the backing Ive received for so many years thats been amazing Kohli addedWith PTI Inputs